The Polygon network’s digital identity protocol, Polygon ID Release 5, has officially launched, marking a pivotal advancement in the decentralized identity ecosystem. This latest release introduces features to amplify the quantity and diversity of credentials available, underscoring Polygon’s commitment to fostering a robust decentralized identity landscape.

Polygon ID is a set of developer tools that can facilitate trusted and secure relationships between apps and users. It was one of the first identity platforms powered by zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography, privacy, and blockchain scaling technology. Polygon ID includes:

Innovations in On-Chain Credential Issuance

Central to Release 5 is introducing a new on-chain issuer, a smart contract designed to facilitate the creation of on-chain credentials from diverse sources. This feature enables the generation of credentials using data from both on- and off-chain environments, thereby broadening the scope and utility of the credentials. For instance, credentials can attest to token ownership or reflect an individual’s on-chain reputation without compromising privacy.

The integration of off-chain data opens up new avenues, allowing the transformation of off-chain documents into verifiable on-chain credentials.

Enhanced Issuer Node and Marketplace

Polygon ID’s Release 5 also significantly improves the Issuer Node, as noted by its enhanced installation and usability. With its availability on major Cloud Marketplaces like Google Cloud Marketplace and Amazon Web Services, the Issuer Node now offers on-chain storage for revocation status, aligning with the goal of total decentralization.

Complementing these technical enhancements is the launch of a new credentials marketplace. This marketplace addresses the challenge of discovering available credentials and their issuers, streamlining the process for developers, and enhancing overall efficiency in the ecosystem.

Ecosystem Expansion and Collaboration

“Polygon ID is not merely releasing a product; it is cultivating an ecosystem,” as Sebastian Rodriguez, VP of Product at Polygon Labs, emphasizes, expanding the range of available credentials is crucial for ecosystem growth. Polygon ID caters to various stakeholders, offering tools like the issuer node for issuers, wallet SDK for wallet providers, and verifier SDK for dApp developers.

Recent collaborations have further enriched the Polygon ID ecosystem. Notable projects highlighted by Polygon include Edenia, Masca, Monokee, Netki, and ReputeX, each bringing unique contributions and expertise to the platform.

The Intersection with Polygon’s POL Token

In the broader context, Polygon’s ongoing transition from MATIC to the next-gen POL token on the Ethereum mainnet adds another layer to this narrative. The POL token, integral to the forthcoming Polygon 2.0 upgrade, is envisioned as a cornerstone in a new era of zero-knowledge-based Layer 2 chains.

Polygon ID’s advancements, alongside the evolution of the POL token, demonstrate Polygon’s commitment to shaping the future of decentralized identity and blockchain technology. By fostering a dynamic and versatile ecosystem, Polygon is enhancing its offerings and contributing significantly to the broader blockchain and cryptocurrency landscape.

Polygon’s MATIC token rose 10% before retracing slightly over the past 24 hours following the release of Polygon ID Release 5, outperforming the broader market.

At the time of press, Polygon is ranked #11 by market cap and the MATIC price is up 8.22% over the past 24 hours. MATIC has a market capitalization of $8.83 billion with a 24-hour trading volume of $1.18 billion. Learn more about MATIC ›

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Market summary

At the time of press, the global cryptocurrency market is valued at at $1.4 trillion with a 24-hour volume of $61.63 billion. Bitcoin dominance is currently at 51.08%. Learn more ›